Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-22
THE ANNIVERSARY.

The nation to-day, by the suspension of
business in all departments, State and Fed
eral, pays the formal tribute of honor and
respect to the memory of the most Illus
trious of Americans The anniversary of
the dawn of the day that gave to liberty
her noblest champion cannot be too rever
emily nor joyously observed. That there
is not more of ceremonial attaching to its
recurrence is to be regretted, but its alb
sence does not indicate any GOODNESS on
tha part of the people. That this should
be the first among the notable anniver-
saries of the nation in the method of its
celebration, outrsnking even the day that
gave birth to the Declaration" is our
firm belief That great emergencies fur
nish the men for the occasion is true; had
not Washington appeared another would
have risen up to lead the struggling col
onists in their unequal contest; neyerthe-
less the advent of the man Washington
marked the first great step taken toward
making effective the solemn resolution
that government is tolerable only which
lows from the consent of the governed,
and hence we do obesiance to him as the
most exalted type of American patriotism
In doing honor to Washington's memory
re pay tribute not only to his genius, the
heroism he typifed, and his unwavering
faith in the possibilities of free government,
but to the principle that all men are of
right free, and should not be deprived of
the chief heritage of manhood, the right
10 choose their own rulers. We revere his
name for the nobility of characterfor which
it stands, and as representing the
pure patriotism of the hour that in
spired the men who fought our bat
ties and won our liberties. As the ages
lengthen out, the grand proportions of
their heroic achievements rise more and
more loftily to view, as do the harmonious
proportions of some architectural piles,
which only fully disclose their symmetry
when viewed at fair distance.
The sincere. American who believes that
the manifest destiny of the nation whose
foundation stones they laid, is to advance
to the closest approach to perfection posi-
ble to the schemes of men, will not permit
the day to pass without renewing his
lealty to republican institutions. He will
not let the sun set upon it without i'm
pressing anew upon the youth of the day
with whom he is brought in contact his
conviction that the American nation is
the grandest of earthly powers the one
broad realm where manhood is absolutely
king and free government stands for every
possible human right, guaranteeing the
exercise Of every honest ambition ard fos-
tering every noble aspiration. He will
not permit the day to die out without en-
tering his protest upon the highways
against even the suggestion that we have
reached the zenith Of our possibilities, or
that the destiny of the republic has been
fulfilled. The land of Washington has
already so far impressed itself upon the
nations of earth that its pacific influence is
everywhere felt and acknowledged 1t
has been reading the lesson of federalism
to the Kings and Princes these hundred
wears and more, and its task viii not have
been accomplished until the remotest relic
of barbarism has disappeared and the last
usurper OF human rights has laid down his
scepter, and men everywhere upon the
globe acknowledge the teaching of free
government, and do honor to the immor-
tai patriots, the memory Of the chief Of
whom nearly sixty millions sovereigns, by
the grace of natural right, to-day honor.